Aristotle on virtue

Michael Lacewingenquiries@alevelphilosophy.co

.uk

Virtue

• A virtue (arête) is a trait of mind or character that helps us achieve a good life (eudaimonia)– Intellectual virtues– Moral virtues (traits of character)

What is a moral virtue?

• Aristotle: a moral virtue is a state of character by which you ‘stand well’ in relation to your desires, emotions and choices:– A character trait is a disposition relating to

how one feels, thinks, reacts etc. in different situations, e.g. short-tempered, generous

– A virtue is a disposition to feel, desire and choose ‘well’

The doctrine of the mean

• Virtues and virtuous actions lie between ‘intermediate’ between two vices of ‘too much’ and ‘too little’– Compare eating too much/little

• Not arithmetical– ‘to feel [desires and emotions] at the right times,

with reference to the right objects, towards the right people, with the right motive, and in the right way’

• This is Aristotle’s ‘doctrine of the mean’• But this is not the same as ‘moderation’ on all

occasions

Practical wisdom

• Practical wisdom – an intellectual virtue – helps us know what the right time, object, person, motive and way is– To feel ‘wrongly’ is to feel ‘irrationally’

• A virtue, then, ‘a state of character concerned with choice, lying in the mean, i.e. the mean relative to us, this being determined by a rational principle, and by that principle by which the person of practical wisdom would determine it’

Virtues and vicesPassion/concern

Vice of deficiency

Virtue Vice of excess

Fear Cowardly Courageous Rash

Pleasure/pain ‘Insensible’ Temperate Self-indulgent

Money Mean Liberal (‘free’) Prodigal

Important honour

Unduly humble Properly proud Vain

Small honours ‘Unambitious’ ‘Properly ambitious’

‘Overambitious’

Anger ‘Unirascible’ Good-tempered Short-tempered

Pleasant to others

Quarrelsome Friendly Obsequious

Shame Shy Modest Shameless

Attitude to other’s fortune

Spiteful Righteously indignant

Envious

Acquiring virtues

• We acquire virtues of character through the habits we form during our upbringing.– Virtues can’t simply be ‘taught’ –

there are no moral child prodigies• We are not virtuous ‘by nature’,

but become virtuous by practising– Like learning to play a musical

instrument– So we become just by doing just acts

Virtuous action

• How can we do just acts unless we are already just? – ‘in accordance with’ justice vs. fully just acts

• A fully virtuous action– know what you are doing – choose the act for its own sake– choose from a firm and unchangeable

character• As we become just, we understand what

justice is and choose it because it is just

Two contrasts

• Is strength of will virtuous?– Aristotle: No. A virtuous person

doesn’t have to overcome temptation.• Is eudaimonia the moral life?

– Aristotle’s idea is wider, e.g. we should have ‘proper pride’ and seek honour (vs. Christian humility and self-sacrifice)